Chinspinner

And the laughter track that makes the entire series unbearable. This might be popular, but this is pure McDonalds. It is moron TV.

Yes, the angst is tedious. They are all like the teenage version of myself, fucking tedious.

Yes, and this was purposefully left ambiguous, which was good writing. What was BAD writing was omitting everything that followed so as to deceive the audience.

Actually let me add a post about this; namely the debate over the Baelish/ Arya/ Sansa sub-plot. Personally, I think the issue is this: GoT was always unpredictable, it subverted trope after trope, it led the audience into a false sense of security. In this series/ season, in particular, rather than subverting tropes, it has used them several times, and it has also relied upon deus ex machina repeatedly. As a small example, would Benjen ever have reappeared in the books in such a casual and flippant manner? While the show remains great, it has come to rely on those tropes US TV writers tend to use, rather than the subversion of tropes Martin tended to use.

As per my previous posts, I agree entirely, the whole thing felt awkward and a little cheap to me (see previous posts). Edit: I would add that in previous series of GoT I would not expect the trope to be followed, rather I would expect it to be subverted... but in this series, less so.

I hate to be THE twat, but when I saw her enter with the knife, I was somewhat clued into how this would play out; but only because it was a trope-ish (new word) bait and switch.

I agree. While this would have ruined the reveal, it would have also felt less confused and less manipulative of the audience. Then again, the writers have really created a rod for their own back with (as someone aptly named him) Google Bran (Deus Ex Machina Bran might be an even more apt title, although not as pithy).

Would they even have met? Wasn't one in Ireland and the other in Morocco or something?

Yeah, I wrote it, and all I meant is the following: Sansa has history and baggage with Baelish, and how ever much her logical mind knows not to trust him, her emotional mind may stand in her way. Therefore, it struck me that it was likely to be with the help of Arya and Bran that she was able accept him for what he is. Furthermore, the scene in the previous episode where Arya hands her the knife (later submitted as evidence against Baelish) is strongly indicative that this is how events unfolded.

I think you nailed it here. This was supposed to be an adult-orientated take on the MCU; and an adult perspective is less likely to revolve around punching playground bullies in the face, and more likely to revolve around dismantling the corrupt systems, the rigged playing field and the ingrained wealth divide that sees them in eternal debt slavery. The Netflix series lost this focus. DD1 worked on both levels, mainly because they had superb stuntmen and fight choreographers, which made their fight scenes visceral and balletic. JJ could not rely on the fight scenes so went with the psychological, which also worked well (but as you say it should have been cut by three episodes). Unfortunately now we just have the overlong, quick-cut, shaky-cam dismantling of hoards of red-shirts, using inconsistent powers, which is boring.

The best description I have seen of Inhumans is that it looks like a porn parody. With regard to Netflix MCU shows, I broadly rate them in the following order, from good to bad: - 1) DD1 2) JJ 3) DD2 4) LC 5) Defenders 6) IF The first 3 were good and the last 3 were disappointing. My concern is that the disappointing series are also the most recent releases, which suggests a general slide in quality or a deficit of ideas. Perhaps there just is not that much you can do in this universe and they are already creatively bereft.

Plus, why would Sansa and Aria have kept up the pretence in all those scenes behind closed doors? If they had been manipulating Baelish from the start, then the show-runners were also manipulating the audience. The only way this sub-plot works is if Sansa believed Baelish, Arya led her by the nose to the truth of it and Sansa woke up to Baelish' plot (confirmed by Bran off-screen) at some point between her first scene with Baelish of this episode and the scene in which she had him killed. To be honest, I felt this entire sub-plot was poorly written, rushed and slightly confused. It had the feel of a standard bait-and-switch and series of tropes used in lesser dramas than GOT, and it relied entirely on deceiving the audience in a rather cheap manner.

I read the novel as a kid, but literally remember nothing about it (it has merged into any number of other King novels I read at that time). I always thought the movie was a bit of an underrated gem. It did everything the show did not; it put some compelling characters into a claustrophobic, unknown and dangerous environment and allowed the drama to organically unfold from their fear and distrust (the series felt far less character driven and far more reliant upon external plot devices for drama). The film also had a superb ending, which I won't spoil here; and in reference to earlier posts, I do understand why people may find it manipulative, but personally I felt it was sufficiently earned through the set up and increasing hopelessness and helplessness that was the major story arc. It certainly was not "gunshot, fade to black" or "it was a all a dream" levels of cheap. The mist actually felt dangerous in the movie, rather than the show where the level of danger varied to suit the plot at any given time. The film had an internal logic and set of rules with regard to the mist, whereas the show had incoherence and fluid rules. I could continue to point out ways in which the film was better than the show, but what's the point; the show was just bad.

Well, that happened. It will remain in my mind for a day or so, and if there is ever a Season 2, I will have forgotten the first ever happened.

It has been cancelled? I'm not surprised; a swift autopsy: - 1) Juliette Lewis' character was not a strong enough connective thread to hold the series together. 2) The first season was full of underwritten characters (not helped by the fact Philippe is such a bland and emotionless actor), silly twists and absurd plot off-shoots ( particularly all that nonsense with the neighbour stalking and kidnapping the MC). The extension of the series in webisodes is just irritating; if you have a story to tell, tell all of it in one format. Your audience should not have to work to experience the entire intended story, it alienates them. 3) The second season actually had a number of compelling characters, but they won't be appearing again if it follows the format of the previous season. As with the first season, the twists and secrets piled one upon another until all suspension of disbelief was lost, mine snapped early but it was utterly shattered by the bigamy twist, which turned the show into an unintentional comedy. The murderer was telegraphed far too early (by virtue of being the only apparently innocent member in the core cast, which followed exactly the format of the first season). They tried to develop Juliette Lewis' character, but there was very little they could actually do to make such a cold fish personable. The final cliff hanger felt cheap and exploitative of the audience. 4) Another season would probably compare poorly to the second season (in terms of the characters). I would be wishing the MC, his brother, his friend and the NY cop were in it for the entire run. However, I did enjoy it and would have liked to watch a third season.